Nigeria records first robotic women’s gynaecology surgery in West Africa

Nigeria has achieved another major milestone in medical innovation with the successful performance of the first robotic gynaecology surgery focusing on women’s health in West Africa.

The development follows earlier breakthroughs in robotics and artificial intelligence at The Prostate Clinic (TPC), Lagos, including advanced treatments for prostate cancer and benign prostate enlargement.

Speaking at the facility, Consultant Robotic Surgeon and Medical Director of TPC, Professor Kingsley Ekwueme, said the latest achievement marks a significant expansion of robotic surgery from men’s health to women’s surgical care.

“After focusing on men’s health issues over the past year, we are now transitioning into women’s surgeries. Today, we are performing the first robotic surgery on a woman in Guinea, West Africa,” Ekwueme said.

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According to him, the patient was a young woman diagnosed with an ovarian tumour that had caused persistent pain, discomfort, and difficulty carrying out normal daily activities, but the robotic procedure would allow her to return home the same day and resume work within 24 hours.

“With robotic surgery, recovery is extremely fast. Within six hours, once the vital signs are stable, the patient can eat, walk, and be discharged,” he added.

Ekwueme explained that, in contrast to traditional open surgery, robotic surgery significantly reduces blood loss, postoperative pain, and complications while preserving normal bodily functions and allowing quick recovery within 24 hours, with little or no disruption.

Beyond ovarian conditions, Ekwueme stated that robotic surgery could also be used to treat a wide range of gynaecological conditions, including endometriosis, uterine fibroids, cancers of the womb, hysterectomies, and selected cases of ectopic pregnancy.

The professor disclosed that the procedure was carried out free of charge as part of the facility’s corporate social responsibility initiative, adding that even when costs are introduced, robotic surgery would remain cost-effective when weighed against its long-term benefits.

Ekwueme then called on women experiencing symptoms such as persistent pelvic pain or abnormal bleeding to seek early medical evaluation, stressing that simple diagnostic tests, such as ultrasound scans, could lead to early detection and effective treatment.

He also revealed that a partnership agreement had recently been signed with the Imo State Government to establish Nigeria’s first government-supported robotic surgery centre, describing it as a landmark collaboration aimed at driving innovation, reducing medical tourism, and strengthening local research and training opportunities.

Speaking, a consultant gynaecologist at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof. Yusuf Oshodi, who is part of the surgical team, said the patient, a 30-year-old woman, was carefully evaluated and found suitable for robotic-assisted surgery.

“The tumour was benign, and the precision of robotic surgery allowed us to remove only the affected tissue without compromising her fertility.

“She will be free from the pain she has endured for six months, without damage to surrounding structures,” Oshodi explained.

Oshodi also highlighted the broader implications of minimally invasive surgery for women’s health, noting that fibroids remain one of the most common gynaecological conditions affecting women in Nigeria.

“Fibroids are very common in women. About seven out of 10 women of Igbo origin have fibroids, but only about 10 to 20 per cent of them develop symptoms,” he said.

Oshodi urged women to seek early medical attention for persistent pain or abnormal bleeding, stressing that minimally invasive procedures offer faster recovery and fewer complications than open surgery.

Another team member, a UK-based consultant gynaecologist, Mr Olaolu Aladade, stated that the benefits of laparoscopic and robotic techniques far outweigh those of open surgery, based on his professional experience in the United Kingdom.

According to Mr Aladade, open surgery often carries a higher risk of postoperative complications, including the formation of adhesions, which can negatively affect a woman’s reproductive health in the future.

“With minimal access surgery, these risks are significantly reduced, which is especially important for women who wish to preserve their fertility,” he stated.